TONU in Trucking, Explained
TONU — truck ordered not used — is a fee carriers can claim when an accepted load is cancelled after the truck was committed. It is negotiated, not automatic, so confirm cancellation terms in writing when you book, document the dispatch confirmation and cancellation timeline, and file promptly. JackRick Logistics dispatchers confirm these terms and handle rebooking plus the claim.
TONU stands for "truck ordered not used" — a fee a carrier can claim when a load it was dispatched for is cancelled after the truck has been committed. The carrier turned down other freight, positioned the truck, and in many cases was already rolling toward the pickup when the cancellation came through. TONU compensates for that lost time, the lost opportunity of the freight that was declined, and any repositioning needed to get back into a productive lane. It is a standard concept in truckload freight, but it is also one of the most disputed charges in the business.
The disputes almost always come down to one fuzzy question: was the truck truly ordered? A broker may argue the load was only tentatively offered; the carrier knows it turned down other loads and deadheaded toward the pickup on the strength of the commitment. Because TONU is a negotiated charge rather than an automatic one, the carriers who collect it reliably are the ones who confirm the commitment in writing and document the cancellation timeline.
This page explains TONU in plain terms: what it means, when it applies, how it differs from detention and layover, and how to document and claim it without invented drama. And because cancelled loads are a dispatch problem as much as a paperwork problem, the last section shows how JackRick Logistics — Shay Denise's dispatch service in Hampton Roads, Virginia — protects the carriers it dispatches from eating cancelled-load costs.
What TONU Means in Trucking
A truck is "ordered" when a carrier accepts a load and commits capacity to it — the dispatcher confirms the rate confirmation, the driver is assigned, and the truck starts moving toward the pickup or is held in position for it. The truck is "not used" when the load is then cancelled through no fault of the carrier: the shipper changed plans, the broker double-booked the freight, or the order simply evaporated. TONU is the fee that bridges that gap. It recognizes a simple economic fact: the carrier spent real resources — time, fuel, and the opportunity cost of freight it turned away — on a load that never materialized.
Crucially, TONU is not automatic and it is not a penalty set by law. It is a negotiated commercial term between the carrier and the broker, which means the outcome depends on what was agreed and what can be documented. Some brokers include TONU language on their rate confirmations as a matter of policy; others address it case by case; a few will argue the point every time. Knowing which kind of broker you are dealing with — and having the commitment in writing before the truck moves — is what separates carriers who collect TONU from carriers who absorb the loss.
When TONU Applies: The Common Scenarios
The clearest TONU scenario is a cancellation after dispatch: the rate confirmation is signed, the driver is en route or staged at the pickup, and the broker calls to cancel. A second common scenario is the double-booked load — the broker offered the same freight to two carriers, and the one who arrives second is told the load is gone. A third is the shipper-side change: the facility cancels or postpones the shipment, the product is not ready, or the order was entered in error. In each case the carrier did everything right and still lost the load.
Timing matters in how these situations are handled. A load cancelled while the truck is still at home base costs the carrier opportunity more than fuel; a load cancelled after the driver has deadheaded to the shipper and is sitting at the gate costs both, plus the repositioning to get back into freight. Carriers and brokers often treat these situations differently, which is why the conversation about TONU should happen when the load is booked — not in the frustrated phone call after the cancellation. A dispatcher who asks about cancellation terms up front saves the argument later.
TONU vs. Detention vs. Layover: Know the Difference
Carriers sometimes use these three terms interchangeably, but they describe different problems and are claimed differently. Detention is about waiting: the truck arrived for a live load and sat at the dock past the agreed free time. The load still moved; only the clock is in dispute. TONU is about a load that never happened: the truck was committed and the freight was cancelled. Layover is about an extended delay between movements — typically an overnight or multi-day hold where the driver and equipment are stuck waiting for the next instruction, often because of a missed connection or a facility closure.
The documentation differs for each. Detention claims rest on arrival and departure timestamps. TONU claims rest on the commitment and cancellation timeline — the signed rate confirmation, the time of the cancellation notice, and where the truck was when it came. Layover claims rest on the extended timeline of the delay and who caused it. Mixing them up weakens a claim: asking for detention on a cancelled load gives the broker an easy reason to deny it, because detention, strictly defined, applies to a load that was actually worked.
The practical takeaway is to name the right charge and document for it from the start. When a load cancels, you are building a TONU file: the rate confirmation, the cancellation message with its timestamp, your truck's location at cancellation, and a record of the freight you turned away or the miles you repositioned. When a dock wait runs long, you are building a detention file instead. Keeping the two straight is a small discipline that pays off every time a claim is questioned.
Get TONU Terms in Writing Before Dispatch
Because TONU is negotiated rather than automatic, the time to settle it is when the load is booked. When the rate confirmation arrives, check whether it addresses cancellations or TONU at all — many do not, which is itself useful information. Ask the broker directly: if this load cancels after I dispatch the truck, how is that handled? Get the answer in writing, on the rate confirmation or in a saved message thread. A broker who confirms a TONU policy clearly is easy to work with; a broker who dodges the question has told you the claim will be a fight.
This is another place where a dispatcher earns their keep. A second set of eyes on every rate confirmation catches missing cancellation language while you still have leverage — before you accept, not after the truck is rolling. Dispatchers also learn which brokers honor TONU commitments and which ones argue, and they factor that into booking decisions. Over a year of loads, booking with brokers who stand behind their commitments is worth far more than winning a single argument over a single cancelled load.
Documenting and Claiming TONU
When a cancellation comes in, your first job is to freeze the timeline. Save the cancellation message with its timestamp — do not rely on memory for when the call happened. Note exactly where the truck was: at home, en route, or at the shipper's gate, with GPS or ELD evidence to back it up. Keep the signed rate confirmation showing the commitment, and make a brief note of the business impact: the freight you declined to take this load, and the deadhead miles needed to reposition afterward. You are not building a legal case; you are assembling a clear, factual timeline that makes the claim easy to approve.
Submit the claim promptly and professionally, referencing the agreed terms and attaching the timeline in one package. A message that works is short: the load number, the time of dispatch confirmation, the time and source of the cancellation, where the truck was, and the request for the TONU fee per your agreement. Follow up on a steady cadence — brokers process many claims, and polite persistence keeps yours moving. If the broker disputes the claim, respond with the documentation rather than emotion; a clean timeline is very difficult to argue against.
How JackRick Protects Carriers From Cancelled-Load Losses
A cancelled load is a dispatch emergency: the truck needs freight again, fast, and the TONU claim needs to be filed before the trail goes cold. JackRick Logistics handles both sides at once. Shay Denise's dispatch team confirms cancellation and TONU terms when the load is booked, jumps on rebooking the truck the moment a cancellation lands, and files the TONU claim with the broker using the documentation you send from the road. You stay focused on the next load while the claim is worked in the background.
The service is simple: 10% flat per load, invoiced every Friday. No retainer, no minimum, no long-term contract — cancel with 30 days' written notice.
To put a dispatcher between you and the next cancelled load, call (757) 744-2484 or email [email protected], or message through the contact page at jackrickconsulting.com/contact/. JackRick Logistics is run by Shay Denise, a freight strategist and licensed commercial insurance broker based in Hampton Roads, Virginia, serving carriers since 2022.
Key takeaways
- TONU compensates a carrier when an accepted load is cancelled after the truck was committed.
- TONU is negotiated, not automatic — settle the terms when the load is booked.
- Get cancellation and TONU terms in writing on the rate confirmation.
- Document the dispatch confirmation, cancellation time, and truck location.
- Name the right charge: TONU for cancelled loads, detention for dock waits, layover for extended holds.
- JackRick's dispatchers confirm TONU terms up front and rebook cancelled trucks fast at 10% flat per load.
Questions carriers ask
What does TONU mean in trucking?
TONU stands for truck ordered not used. It is a fee a carrier can claim when a load it accepted and dispatched a truck for is cancelled through no fault of the carrier — compensating for lost time, declined freight, and repositioning.
When can a carrier claim TONU?
Typically when a load is cancelled after the carrier committed the truck: dispatch confirmed, driver assigned, truck en route or staged. Common triggers include shipper cancellations, double-booked loads, and freight that is not ready at the pickup. The claim depends on what was agreed with the broker and what the carrier can document.
What is the difference between TONU and detention?
Detention applies when a truck waits at a dock past the free-time window on a load that still moves. TONU applies when the load itself is cancelled after the truck was committed. They are different charges with different documentation — detention needs timestamps, TONU needs the commitment and cancellation timeline.
How does JackRick's dispatch service help with TONU claims?
JackRick's dispatchers confirm cancellation and TONU terms when the load is booked, rebook your truck immediately when a cancellation lands, and file the TONU claim with the broker using the timeline and documents you send from the road.
Should TONU be addressed on the rate confirmation?
Yes. Because TONU is a negotiated term, not an automatic one, ask the broker how cancellations are handled when the load is booked and get the answer in writing — on the rate confirmation or in a saved message thread.
How do I start dispatch service with JackRick?
Call (757) 744-2484 or email [email protected], or reach out through the contact page at jackrickconsulting.com/contact/. The service is 10% flat per load with Friday invoicing, no retainer, no minimum, and no long-term contract — just 30 days' written notice to cancel.